Height gage



Dec; 31, 1963 H. A. ROY, SR 3,115,708

HEIGHT GAGE I Original Filed June 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

I 20' Henry A. RopSr. INVENTOR.

o I I BY uxdfiwayzyM H. A. ROY, SR

Dec. 31, 1963 HEIGHT GAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 25, 1958Fig.2

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R. A. M y awn M United States Patent 3,115,708 HEIGHT GAGE Henry A. Roy,Sr., 117 Lowell St, Peabody, Mass. Continuation of application Ser- No.744,365, June 25, 1953. This application May 23, 1962, Ser. No. 203,422Claims. ((Il. 33143) The present invention generally relates to ameasuring instrument in the form of a [height gage for providing aprecision basic standard for inspection and manufacturing measurement.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 744,366,filed June 25, 1958, for Height Gage, now abandoned.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a height gagewhich will repeatedly give precise reading of heights that aretransferred from a work piece to the gage or that are taken from thegage and transferred to a work piece.

Another object of the present invention is to take settings from zeroand upward, from both the top and undersurface of each gage blockwithout any additional attachments.

A further important feature of the present invention is to provide astructure for accurately setting a layout scriber from zero to anyheight without any extra attachments.

The present height gage has certain advantages over those previouslyknown in that it can be set, read and used to obtain precise readingswhile resting on an irregular as well as a flat surface and has anintegral surface gaging plate and integral gaging blocks which permitsetting of another type gaging instrument to its top or bottom surfacewithout the use of any other attao'hment. The present gage also isprovided with a groove in the ends of the gaging blocks for permittingthe setting of a marking or layout scriber precisely and without anyadditional attachments. Further, this gage can be set by means of a rackand pinion and its setting read from a precision indicator withadjustment being possible from zero to any setting desired and uses amicrometer adjustment or rack and pinion adjustment. This gage also canbe transferred from a perfectly flat surface, to an irregular surface,and not affect its accuracy inasmuch as any reading or setting made froma perfectly flat surface on which the gage rests, can be repeated withthe same accuracy from any other irregular or distorted surface on whichit is placed.

Other important objects of the present invention includes its simplicityof construction, ease of use, accuracy, and relatively inexpensivemanufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the height gage of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 4-4- of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one form of gage block;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of gage block;

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FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the spacer disposed between adjacentgage blocks; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial elevational View with part of the device insection illustrating a micrometer adjustment construction for moving thegage blocks.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 19 generallydesignates the height gage of the present invention which includes agenerally rectangular base 1-2 having an extension 14 at one end thereofof lesser thickness than the base 12 thus defining a recess 16. The base12 has a precision surface 18 which enables a zero reading in a mannerdescribed hereinafter.

Disposed at the outer end of the extension 14 on the base 12 is anelongated tubular member 2%) having a longitudinal slot 21 facing thebase 12. Disposed within the tubular member 2% is an upstanding guide 22having an enlarged lower end 24 which rests against the upper surface ofthe extension 14 and is secured thereto by screw threaded fasteners 26.The upper end of the guide 22 is slidably received in a socket or blindmore 28 in an elongated stem 30 which is disposed concentrically withinthe tubular member 20. The upper end of the tubular member 243 isprovided with a fitting 32 having a vertical bore 34 therein slidablyreceiving the upper end of the stem 3% thereby enabling the stem 30 tomove longitudinally within the tubular member 2'1 by sliding engagementon the guide member 22 and sliding engagemerit in the bore 34. The upperend of the fitting 32 is provided with a bore 36 of lessercross-sectional area than the bore 34 for receiving the shank 38 of adial indicator 40 having contact with the upper end of the stem 3% forregistering movement of the stem 30-.

The upper end of the stern Ed is also provided with a plurality oflongitudinally arranged rack teeth 42 which are in meshing engagementwith a pinion gear 44 journaled in a transverse aperture 46 in thefitting 32 and provided with a knurled knob 48 on one end thereof forrotation of the pinion gear 44 ttor raising and lowering the stern Sillin the tubular member 2%.

Secured in accurate longitudinal spaced relation to the stem 30 is aplurality of gage blocks generally designated by the numeral 50 withadjacent gage blocks being disposed in spaced relation by accuratespacers 52. which are cylindrical and closely surround the stern 3thFIGURE 5 illustrates the details of one form of gage block which isdesignated by the numeral 5% and includes a body 54 having an aperture56 extending therethrough and a slit 58 communicating the aperture 56with the rear side thereof together with a transversely extending clampscrew 60 for urging the edges of the slit 58 together for clamping thebody 54 rigidly to the stem. The body 54 is provided with a projection62 having laterally spaced steps or recesses 64 which define an uppergaging surface 66 and a downwardly facing gage surface 66 with theupwardly facing and downwardly facing surfaces being in the samehorizontal plane and thus enabling a reading from over the gagingsurface or under the gaging surface. In the same horizontal plane as thegaging surfaces 66 and 68, there is provided an indentation "76 forreceiving a scriber for layout purposes which may be employed after thegaging surfaces have been accurately positioned.

"FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified form of gage block designated by thenumeral '72 which includes two elements 74 and 76 each having anaperture 73 extending therethrough and a setscrew 863 for locking thedevice in position. Each device 7-4- and 76 is provided with aprojection designated by the numerals 8.2 and 34 respectively which aredisposed against each other but in laterally oflsct relation forproviding an upwardly facing gaging surface 86 and a downwardly facinggaging surface 88 with the line of juncture between the gaging surfaces86 and d8 being provided with an indentation 9G for receiving a scriber.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention in whichthe slotted tubular member 2% has the stem 30' therein which isconnected with a micrometer adjustment assembly generally designated bythe numeral 92. In this construction, the spindle of the micrometer isconnected to the stem 3% and by manipulating the micrometer headthirnble 94, the gage blocks may be raised or lowered. The details ofthe micrometer head assembly 92 are not illustrated but the usualVernier scale arrangement 96 is provided on the thimble and body of themicrometer head.

Each precision measuring block 59 or 72 is lapped on the gaging surfacesand are spaced on one inch centers by the spacers 52. By turning theknurled knob 43 or the thimble 94, the gage blocks or 72 are raised andlowered. The gage blocks protrude sufficiently from the tubular member2% through the slot 21 for providing adequate working area for ease ofuse of the device. With the present device, an absolute measurement fromthe surface on which the gage rests may be provided and a measurementcan be taken from a workpiece and determined with the gage. The gagewill also permit a predetermined dimension to be set on it andtransferred to the workpiece and will give a repeat measurementregardless of the amount of times the indicator is removed from andreplaced on the gaging surface. This device provides ease and speed ofaccurate height measurements from its surface plate and suchmeasurements can be repeated regardless of the surface on which it restsor in other words the gage does not have to be resting on a precision orflat surface. Each gage block permits the measurement or setting of anindicator over a workpiece or under a workpiece without any extraattachments and the recess 16 permits the zero reading to be set byvirtue of the first gage block having the gaging surfaces aligned withthe surface 18 of the base 12. There is also provided a graduated scale98 along the slot 21 which shows the position of each gage block infractions of an inch. This device permits tool makers and model makersto place the gage on their work bench or tool truck without the use of aprecision surface plate and enables inspectors and layout men tocomplete their work in approximately one third of the time now requiredwith other methods being used. Each gage is equipped with its own gagingsurface and individual gage blocks may be removed and replaced Withoutdestroying the other blocks inasmuch as wearing of the gage blockselevating and lowering device will not affect the accuracy of the gageblock settings.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable self-contained height gage comprising a base member havingan upwardly exposed gaging surface thereon, an upstanding support rigidwith said base member, a slidable stem carried by the support extendingupwardly from and slidably mounted in relation to the gaging surface,said base member having a recess in the upper surface thereof anddisposed adjacent the gag ing surface for receiving the lower end of thesupport and the stem whereby the lowermost end of the stem is disposedbelow the plane of the gaging surface, a housing on the upper end of thesupport, said housing including a longitudinal bore receiving the upperend of the slidable stem, stern engaging means on the support for movingthe slidable stem vertically in relation to the gaging surface,indicating means engaging the stem for indicating the movement of theslidable stem, a plurality of gage blocks disposed in spaced relation onthe slidable stem, each gage block including a lateral projectionextending toward the gaging surface, each gage block having anindentation centrally disposed in the outer surface of the laterallyextending projection, each gage block also having a downwardly facinggaging surface and an upwardly facing gaging surface in horizontalalignment formed on the laterally extending projection, said gagingsurfaces on the block being parallel with the gaging surface on the basemember, the lowermost gage block being mounted on the lowermost end ofthe stem whereby said gaging surfaces and indentations on the lowermostblock are alignable with the gaging surfaces on the base member forestablishing a zero reading, said indentation being in alignment withand between the gagsurfaces on the block thereby enabling the gagingsurfaces on the blocks on the movable stem to be adjusted in relation tothe gaging surface on the base member for enabling the gage to beemployed for various uses.

2. The height gage as defined in claim 1 wherein said support includes atubular sleeve rigidly afiixed to the base member, said sleeve includinga longitudinal slot facing the gaging surface on the base member, saidlaterally extending projections on the stem extending laterallyoutwardly through said slot towards the gaging surface, said housingalso including a guide at the lower end thereof engaging the lowermostend of the slidable stem for guiding the stem during the verticalsliding movement thereof, said gage blocks being detachably mounted onthe slidable stem, a plurality of space-rs disposed between the gageblocks for orientating the gage blocks in spaced relation, saidindicating means engaging the upper end of the slidable stem andincluding a dial for indicating movement of the stem.

3. A portable self-contained height gage comprising a base member havingan upwardly exposed gaging surface thereon, an upstanding support rigidwith said base member, a movable stem carried by the support extendingupwardly from and movably mounted in relation to the gaging surface,said base member having a recess in the upper surface thereof anddisposed adjacent the gaging surface for receiving the lower end of thesupport and the stem whereby the lowermost end of the stem is disposedbelow the plane of the gaging surface, a housing on the upper end of thesupport, said housing including a longitudinal bore receiving the upperend of the stem, stem engaging means on the support for moving the stemvertically in relation to the gaging surface, indicating means engagingthe stem for indicating the movement of the stem, a plurality of gageblocks disposed in spaced relation on the stem, each gage blockincluding a lateral projection extending laterally toward the gagingsurface, each gage block having a downwardly facing gaging surface andan upwardly facing gaging surface in horizontal alignment formed on thelaterally extending projection, said gaging surfaces on the block beingparallel with the gaging surface on the base member, the lowermost gageblock being mounted on the lowermost end of the stem whereby said gagingsurfaces on the lowermost block are alignable with the gaging surface onthe base member for establishing a Zero reading.

4. The height gage as defined in claim 3 wherein said support includes atubular sleeve rigidly afiixed to the base member, said sleeve includinga longitudinal slot facing the gaging surface on the base member, saidlaterally extending projections on the stem extending laterallyoutwardly through said slot towards the gaging surface, said housingalso including a guide at the lower end thereof engaging the lowermostend of the slidable stem for guiding the stem during vertical slidingmovement thereof, said gage blocks being detachably mounted on theslidable stern, a plurality of spacers disposed between the gage blocksfor orientating the gage blocks in spaced relation, said indicatingmeans engaging the upper end of the slidable stem and including a dialfor indicating movement or" the stem.

5. A portable self-contained height gage comprising a base member havingan upwardly exposed gaging surface thereon, an upstanding support rigidwith said base member, a slidable stem carried by the support extendingupwardly from and slidably mounted in relation to the gaging surface,said base member having a recess in the upper surface thereof anddisposed adjacent the gaging surface for receiving the lower end of thesupport and the stem whereby the lowermost end of the stem is disposedbelow the plane of the gaging surface, a housing on the upper end of thesupport, said housing including a longitudinal bore receiving the upperend of the slidable stem, stem engaging means on the support for movingthe slidable stem vertically in relation to the gaging surface,indicating means engaging the stern for indicating the movement of theslidable stem, a plurality of gage blocks disposed in spaced relation onthe slidable stern, each gage block including a lateral projectionextending toward the gaging surface, each gage block having anindentation centrally disposed in the outer surface of the laterallyextending projection, each gage block also having a downwardly facinggaging surface and an upwardly facing gaging surface in horizontalalignment formed on the laterally extending projection, said gagingsurfaces on the block being parallel with the gaging surfaces on thebase member, the lowermost gage block being mounted on the lowermost endof the stern whereby said gaging surfaces and indentations on thelowermost block are alignable with the gaging surface on the base memberfor establishing a zero reading, said indentation being in alignmentwith and between the gaging surfaces on the lock thereby enabling thegaging surfaces on the blocks on the movable stem to be adjusted inrelation to the gaging surfaces on the base member for enabling the gageto be employed for various uses, said recess in the upper surface of thebase having dimensions capable of gaging surfaces and indentationsthereon may be aligned with the gaging surface on the base.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,575,246 Anderson Mar. 2, 1926 2,135,316 Whistler et al Nov. 1, 19382,429,923 Cavicchi Oct. 28, 1947 2,515,583 Bennett July 18, 19502,713,208 Bizzoco et al. July 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 394,514 GreatBritain July 20, 1933

1. A PORTABLE SELF-CONTAINED HEIGHT GAGE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXPOSED GAGING SURFACE THEREON, AN UPSTANDING SUPPORT RIGID WITH SAID BASE MEMBER, A SLIDABLE STEM CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN RELATION TO THE GAGING SURFACE, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A RECESS IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF AND DISPOSED ADJACENT THE GAGING SURFACE FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER END OF THE SUPPORT AND THE STEM WHEREBY THE LOWERMOST END OF THE STEM IS DISPOSED BELOW THE PLANE OF THE GAGING SURFACE, A HOUSING ON THE UPPER END OF THE SUPPORT, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL BORE RECEIVING THE UPPER END OF THE SLIDABLE STEM, STEM ENGAGING MEANS ON THE SUPPORT FOR MOVING THE SLIDABLE STEM VERTICALLY IN RELATION TO THE GAGING SURFACE, INDICATING MEANS ENGAGING THE STEM FOR INDICATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDABLE STEM, A PLURALITY OF GAGE BLOCKS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION ON THE SLIDABLE STEM, EACH GAGE BLOCK INCLUDING A LATERAL PROJECTION EXTENDING TOWARD THE GAGING SURFACE, EACH GAGE BLOCK HAVING AN INDENTATION CENTRALLY DISPOSED IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE LATERALLY EXTENDING PROJECTION, EACH GAGE BLOCK ALSO HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING GAGING SURFACE AND AN UPWARDLY FACING GAGING SURFACE IN HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT FORMED ON THE LATERALLY EXTENDING PROJECTION, SAID GAGING SURFACES ON THE BLOCK BEING PARALLEL WITH THE GAGING SURFACE ON THE BASE MEMBER, THE LOWERMOST GAGE BLOCK BEING MOUNTED ON THE LOWERMOST END OF THE STEM WHEREBY SAID GAGING SURFACES AND INDENTATIONS ON THE LOWERMOST BLOCK ARE ALIGNABLE WITH THE GAGING SURFACES ON THE BASE MEMBER FOR ESTABLISHING A ZERO READING, SAID INDENTATION BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND BETWEEN THE GAGING SURFACES ON THE BLOCK THEREBY ENABLING THE GAGING SURFACES ON THE BLOCKS ON THE MOVABLE STEM TO BE ADJUSTED IN RELATION TO THE GAGING SURFACE ON THE BASE MEMBER FOR ENABLING THE GAGE TO BE EMPLOYED FOR VARIOUS USES. 